Good morning~!

For the past three years I have been on this whirlwind of building my business. I have been on the road constantly trying to create a presence and recognition of my company. Endless tradeshows and open houses, hours of networking, marketing and promoting and countless trial and error attempts to find my niche.

And just when I thought things were getting good, along comes the need for me to make a new number one rule. Have a plan B. I don't care how good things are, if you do not have a back up plan you are skating on thin ice, business wise. As is usual, it's the bottom line that concerns me. And not just how costs and expenses affect MY bottom line but how my resulting prices affect my customers because they are the ones who will ultimately carry the burden of rising costs.

Some things you just can't control but I feel strongly about providing high quality at an affordable price. I also feel strongly about who my business is associated with including my suppliers, my artisans and the promoter and venue that my products are sold at. They all reflect something on my business in the mind of the client.
If any of those influences begin to be out of sync with one another, it's time to make a change. In my case, it is time to reconsider which tradeshows to continue with and which ones to cut from my schedule without losing my customer base in that city. So, how do I fill the gap? Which direction do I take that will benefit not only my bottom line but my customer's pocketbook as well?

These types of decisions do not come with their own "time". There is little, if any, room for hesitation. It can mean the end to all the hard work put forth so far and starting over. Not an option for me. For now, I am cutting back on a few of the shows that have in the past not been great performers. I am also upgrading my own jewelry making skills by taking lessons in silver smithing to enhance the uniqueness of my products and I am investigating new options to bring affordable quality to my customers.

Hopefully, I will remain calm and rationale as I decide on a new game plan as far as the shows are concerned and not make hasty decisions that could be costly. So here is to taking time to grow. Let's hope it's not tooooooo bumpy of a ride~!